Ramifications of Incomplete or Incorrectly Performed ADAS Calibrations

Why Calibration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Technology is Mandatory

Accurate system diagnostics and calibration have become absolutely critical in the automotive industry, due to the increasing complexity of modern vehicles.

The sensitive systems that control this technology can be compromised in a collision. After they are repaired or replaced, calibration is required to validate that the systems are performing and communicating with one another correctly.

If calibrations are missed or improperly performed, safety systems will not engage. The costs associated with calibration are outweighed by the benefit of helping prevent future collisions.

Calibration can be Incorrectly Performed BUT Scan Tools will Mark the Procedures as Correctly Completed

Scanning tools, even OEM scanning tools, are only able to determine if the calibration steps were completed. They cannot account for environmental factors that impact calibration.

Some of these environmental factors include:

• Unlevel or sloped flooring
• Vehicle weight not at factory defaults, potentially caused by objects left in the car or trunk or an unfilled gas tank
• Vehicle not at proper ride height, impacted by incorrectly inflated tires, modifications to the suspension, lift kits and more
• Improper lighting including outdoor lighting and certain types of LEDs

Case Study: Honda Civic with AEB⁽¹⁾

Performed by American Honda Motor Company

At the 2021 SEMA show, Scott Kaboos, then national assistant manager of collision repair technology and training for American Honda Motor Co. reported on the findings of his team.

According to Honda service information, calibrations must be done on a level floor, with a slope of no more than 1 degree of variation in any direction. 1 degree of variation is too small for the human eye to detect.

With calibrations performed according to Honda’s requirements, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) on the tested Honda Civic performed correctly every time—stopping the car before impact with the target.

However, when the same calibration was performed using the same vehicle and the same tool on a slope of 1.5 degrees, the AEB system failed to engage.

How to Ensure that Calibrations are Performed Correctly To Help Prevent Future Collisions

For the Collision Repairer

• Ensure you are performing all ADAS calibrations in accordance with OEM requirements, including level flooring, correct lighting and correct ride height
• Use appropriate tools to determine that flooring is truly level—don’t attempt to “eyeball” it
• If your shop cannot find a clear space to perform calibrations, consider partnering with a local diagnostics expert who can bring the vehicle into their certified space for calibrations

For the Carrier

• If your policyholder’s vehicle is equipped with ADAS technology (common on model years 2017 and later, universal on model year 2023 and later), partner with a collision repairer that has a reputable solution for ADAS calibration
• Make sure that you have a network of local, in-network providers for ADAS calibration; Caliber data indicates the demand will continue to grow, becoming near universal by 2031